The Story Behind New England Missing
It was a night I’ll never forget. Although the exact dates don’t stick in my memory, the investigation and its outcome do.
More than 35 years ago, a friend of a friend reached out to me about a missing 2½-year-old boy. I took a $50 retainer to get started and soon found myself doing a 36-hour surveillance in a small town in Rhode Island.
The backstory was troubling: the child’s biological father was allegedly planning to leave the state with the boy. It was said he was a heroin addict and intended to sell the child once he reached Florida.
I watched and waited, patiently observing from a parking lot for over two days. Then, at 2:30 AM, a cab pulled into the driveway I’d been monitoring.
A man, believed to be the biological father, exited the cab carrying a bulky black trash bag under his arm like a football. The darkness made it hard to see clearly, but he entered the building with a key.
Inside, the light in a stairwell turned on. I contacted the local police, who responded quickly. Before the officer arrived, I saw a second-floor light turn on, then quickly go out. The windows were covered with dark drapes that looked like blankets.
The officer and I knocked on the second-floor door, but no one answered. After several attempts, we heard a baby crying.
We knocked again, and the officer warned that he might have to break the door down. Finally, the door opened, and the baby was rescued.
I called the mother to come to the town’s police station, and the child was safely reunited with her.
That night changed everything for me. It was the moment I realized this was where I was meant to be. New England Missing is a product of that night.
With 37 years of experience as a private investigator, the founder of New England Missing has dedicated his life to finding answers and helping families in their most difficult moments. Based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, he brings both expertise and unwavering commitment to the search for the missing across New England.